Many injured as Markmentors escape death in Minna (PHOTOS)

Written By Idoma Television on Friday, July 21, 2017 | 9:56:00 AM

Players and officials of Markmentors, former champions of DStv
Men’s Premier Basketball League, yesterday, narrowly escaped death by whiskers
after they were attacked by angry fans during a match with Niger Potters in
Minna, the Niger State capital.

DAILY POST gathered that the Otukpo lads were leading the
host team 48 to 42 when the visibly angry and disappointed fans descended on
their cameraman, Jimoh Momoh and threw him off the spectators’ stand at the College of Education, Minna.

A source hinted our reporter that the fans reportedly launched
the attack on the players just six seconds to the end of 3rd quarters during
free throw in favour of Markmentors.

He said, “Fans of Niger Potters who were sent off the court
decided unleash their anger and frustration on the Markmentors camera man by beating
and collecting his camera. They threw him off the spectators’ stand and he
broke his leg.”

The source added that the Markmentors players were later
visited with rain of bottles from the angry fans when they tried to rescue
their camera man, two of the players were later rushed to the hospital with
deep head injuries.

Those injured in the attack were identified as Jimoh Momoh, Emmanuel
Ndibe and Okuongbae Osarhiemen.

Confirming the incident to our report, Markmentors Coach
Adeka Daudu said the injured players are currently receiving treatment at an undisclosed
hospital.

Speaking with our correspondent on Friday, the Chairman and
CEO of Markmentors, Igoche Mark condemned in totality the incident, describing
it as very unfortunate.

He said, “A basket ball match goes either way, either you
win or lose. If you win, super and if otherwise, accept your fate and bow out gallantly.
Learn from your mistakes and prepare for your next game. I fear for the future
of the game here in Nigeria.”

Mr. Igoche, who wondered why should basketball game be turned
into a boxing brawl, said, “I rather pull my team out of the league than risk
the lives of any of my players or officials.”

“This is supposed to be a game and not a free
for all tournament. This is really sad, I must confess. Up till now, we are yet
to even receive a call from officials of the host team after the attack. It is
a bad omen to the basketball industry that we are trying to build. If this kind
of incident should repeat itself, we would be left with no other choice that to
pull out from the league. Inasmuch as we want to promote the basketball game,
we would not want to risk the lives of promising youths to some unpatriotic elements,”
Igoche added.

He called on the basketball governing body in Nigeria
to immediately come up with ways of curtailing harassment of visiting players
and officials.

Meanwhile, a text message to the Niger State Police Police
Public Relations Officer, Bala Elkana was not replied at the time of this
report just as efforts to reach the Niger Potters Coach Ishaq
Yahaya could not yield any result at the time of this report.

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